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OP THE 



Anniversary and Banquet 



u 

n 



IL. 



OF THE 



oldest inhabitants 
association 

(COLORED) 



OF THE 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 



JOHN H. PAYNTER, Historian 
APRIL 16, 1914 




WASHINGTON. »• C 

1914 



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t 







JEROME A. JOHNSON 
President and Founder 



ForeAVord 



During many years, since the principle of liberty for all 
mien became the mighty shibboleth in the rebirth of the Union, 
the serious thought of many old residents of color in the 
District has been given to the establishment of an Oldest 
Inhabitants Association. 

It was thought that such an Association, molded upon lines 
similar, in the main, to those upon which one was formed 
among white fellow-citizens, could do much toward encourag- 
ing a pride of race, as well as of residence, among a people 
whose long years of sad experiences could not of themselves be 
expected to stimulate the growth of these ennobling sentiments. 

The essential work of establishing a presumable equality 
of being and oppoiWity having been completed, the Negro 
made his entrance into civic life as a new creature, rejoicing 
as some proud victor "at dangers past and conflicts won," 
with tales as true and strange and thrilling as ever yet, with 
merry rhythm or solemn period, were fashioned into an epic 
for a race ; and so the thoughts and hopes of many citizens 
were crystallized by the fact of organization^ mainly through 
the efforts of Mr. Jerome A. Johnson, when in November, 
1912, was formed the Association of Oldest Inhabitants of the 
District of Columbia (Colored). 

It seemed appropriate and natural that the sixteenth of 
April should be considered the most important in the calendar 
of the Association, and so was adopted as its natal day, to be 
appropriately^ observed on each recurring anniversary. 



Historian's Address 



Mr. 1'resident, Honored Guests, and Associate ^Members op 
THE Oldest Inhabitants Association (Colored) of the 
District op Columbia: 

Entering as we do to-night upon our second anniversary 
year, we realize that there is much encompassed within the 
twelve months that may be remembered with pleasure. 
Equally true it is that there is much that has touched us 
either intimately or remotely that is not at all pleasant and 
which ^\'ould have been ordered otherwise had our personal 
wishes been consulted. 

^Meetings have been held regularly each month, to the pleas- 
ure and gratification of an ever increasing membership, who 
more and more are coming to look forward to these monthly 
reunions as significant and of the first importance. 

It should be gratifying to each of us to realize how bright 
with promise the future beams that holds our plans and 
hopes and dreams, and so these meetings, each adds one more 
golden link to the precious chain of memories which shall 
become more and still more valuable as the years roll on. 

It must continue to be a source of satisfaction and an occa- 
sion of general congratulation that a body of citizens, who 
have nothing to distinguish them except their plainness and 
long residence, have agreed to come together and are em- 
phasizing through permanent organization the fact that they 
have a pride in their place of residence and are not ashamed 
to be associated under the name of its oldest inhabitants. 
Certainly there can not be a spot in all this broad land 
so redolent of events which have furnished in so large a 
degree the highest lights and deepest shadows of our most 
valuable American history. 

To have been associated with any of these in however small 



a degree is indeed to have been distinguished, and yet before 
this city took on its permanent outline as directed through 
the genius of the French Major L 'Enfant and the black 
mathematician Benjamin Banneker, Negro citizens were al- 
ready bearing an intimate and worthful relation to the life 
and progress of this community and the millions of that 
greater America which were to come after them. 

I have often thought that we as a race are not sufficiently 
appreciative of the powerful asset it has in the life history 
of the immortal Banneker. The fact should be made notori- 
ous that the history of the laying out of this beautiful 
Capital City is the completest justification of the claim of 
Negro citizens to an equitable and righteous consideration 
in all matters which touch their civic welfare. 

Certainly there can be no warrant for the shafts of abuse 
which are persistently hurled at them; the rigid lines of dis- 
crimination dra\ATi against them and the contemptible assaults 
which are made upon their fame and character by persons 
who are alien to the soil and who through the fortunes of 
politics are permitted a temporary residence to represent their 
distant constituencies at the seat of government. 

Many of these, perhaps, do not know that it is to the 
splendid genius of this black man that in large measure they 
are indebted for the scientific measurements from which has 
been developed our glorious Washington ; and to complete a 
tripod of the names of men who wrought its magnificent 
design, to those of L 'Enfant and Ellicott must be added that 
of the Negro Astronomer and Surveyor, Benjamin Banneker. 

Banneker 's grandfather is said to have been an African 
Prince, who was stolen from his native land and sold to an 
English woman who o^^^led a small farm near the Patapsco 
River. 

This woman, Molly Welsh by name, was undergoing pun- 
ishment in the shape of an enforced residence in the colonies, 
for an alleged misdemeanor, said to have been nothing more 
serious than the loss of a pail of milk, which, indeed it is also 
said, the cow, herself had kicked over. 

Be that as it may, it was bj-^ a devious route and through 



a strange combiDation of circumstances that one of the most 
remarkable men the world has known was to make his ap- 
pearance. 

England and Africa with their wealth of history and .tradi- 
tion seem solemnly to have pledged each the other its hand 
and heart and peculiar talents that beyond the great waters 
a new world might firvst behold their great achievement. 

Molly Welsh had herself been held in nominal slavery as 
expiation for her alleged misdeed ; but after her tiuLe of service 
had expired, established herself on a small farm, in the opera- 
tion of which she was assisted by two Negro men whom she 
had purchased. One of these was Banneker's grandfather. 

After a few years she set them both free and later married 
Banneker. One of the children of this union was Mary, who 
married, but retained her family name and became the mother 
of Banneker, the mathematician and astronomer. 

It is to be noted that such marriages were quite common 
in Maryland during the early Colonial days, between white 
serving women and Negro slaves, and to this legitimate origin 
may largely be traced many of the old families of this com- 
monwealth whose mixed blood has long been seized upon as 
occasion for imcharitable reflection. 

The desire of his grandmother, who was a woman of supe- 
rior intelligence, to have young Banneker read to her from the 
Bible is mainly responsible for his initiation into the mysteries 
of letters. She taught him herself and afterwards placed him 
in a school where much the larger number of pupils were of 
the white race. > 

Banneker's genius early discovered itself. He studiously 
applied himself during several years to the study of the sun- 
dial and watch and after experiencing many difficulties in 
perfecting adjustments and modeling the works, he finally at 
the age of twenty-two, gave to the colony its first native clock. 

This piece of mechanism, so ingeniously constructed and 
having its works carved with a knife out of hard wood (a 
substance but indifferently adapted for uses requiring deli- 
cate and minute adjustments), is said to have struck the 
hours; was an excellent time-piece, and as late as 1773 after 



having rim more than twenty years, was reported in good 
condition and as affording, with its sable designer, an attrac- 
tion for visitors from afar and near. 

The Ellicott family settled in the neighborhood when Ban- 
neker had just passed his fortieth year and where was estab- 
lished the industry which gave name and fame to that locality. 

To many minds, perhaps the fact that it was our Banneker 's 
birthplace would seemingly accoimt, more aesthetically, at 
least, for its extended fame. 

George Ellicott and Banneker immediately established a 
friendship that was to be broken only by death. 

A reciprocal interest in the science of mathematics doubt- 
less pointed the way for so unusual an attachment, for Elli- 
cott was a man well versed in this science. In early youth 
he had surveyed the road from Frederick to Baltimore and 
Avas in possession of a number of rare mathematical books 
and instruments which he freely loaned to Banneker. 

It wias at Ellicott 's suggestion that the latter undertook 
the calculations necessary for the compiling of almanacs. 

To this work he devoted all his energies and was so success- 
ful as to calculate an eclipse in 1789. 

His first almanac was published in 1792. when in his sixty- 
first year and was stated by the publishers to be "a complete 
and accurate Ephemeris for Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary- 
land, and Virginia and altogether a most extraordinary effort 
of genius." 

A manuscript copy of this Almanac was forwarded to 
Thomas Jefferson at Philadelphia. Mr. Jefferson, who was 
then Secretary of State, responded with a most felicitous 
note of congratulations in which this signitioant phrase oc- 
curred: "Nobody wishes more than I do, to see proofs, as 
you exhibit, that nature has given to our black brethren 
talents equal to the other colors of men." 

He also stated that he had sent the Almanac to Mons. 
Condorcet, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences at Paris and 
member of the Philanthropic Society, because "he considered 
it as a document to wiiich your whole color had a right for 



their justification against the doubts which have been enter- 
tained of them." 

Perhaps in no more specific or pointed way is the thor- 
oughly imique and altogether wonderful career of Benjamin 
Banneker emphasized than in his preparedness to furnish the 
necessary scientific data for a completion of the survey of the 
City of Washington, when Major L 'Enfant, through excess of 
pique actually abandoned the work. 

Washington and Jefterson had frequently been annoyed by 
his unreasonable demands in connection therewith and were 
finally face to face with the fact that the Major had actually 
shaken the dust of the embryo Capital City from his feet 
and what was worse had taken ^^ith him all his original plana 
and measurements. 

The situation indeed seemed desperate and was so regarded 
by Washington (for there was involved the defeat of his most 
cherished plans for a Federal City) until apprised of the 
fact that Banneker for purposes of practice and calculation 
had regularly transcribed and preserved the field notes of 
L 'Enfant. 

These furnished Ellicott, I; 'Enfant 's assistant, the essential 
data, and the work of laying doAMi the Capital City was com- 
pleted upon its original lines. 

The beauty of design and excellent proportions of Detroit^ 
the superb city by the Great Lakes, so similar in these re- 
spects to the City of Washington, are not at all strange when 
it is knowTi that the disgruntled Major L 'Enfant, seemingly 
to emphasize his complete disgust and resentment, betook him- 
self to Michigan and sold his plans and measurements to 
Governor Woodward for use in laying out his capital city. 
Woodward Avenue at Detroit corresponds to Pennsylvania- 
Avenue at Washington. 

In speaking of this Avonderful man, Mrs. Mary Clemmer 
Ames, in her interesting book entitled "Life and Scenes in 
the National Capital," uses this language: "Ellicott's most 
remarkable assistant was Benjamin Banneker, a Negro. He 
was, I believe, the first of his race to distinguish himself in the 
new Republic. He was bora with a genius for mathematics 



and the exact sciences and at an early age was the author of 
an Almanac which attracted the attention of Thomas Jeffer- 
son. When he came to run the lines of the future Capital 
he was sixty years of age. The caste of color could not have 
grown to its height at that day, for the Commissioners invited 
him to an official seat with themselves, an honor which he 
declined. The picture given us of him is that of a sable 
Franklin, large, noble, and venerable, with a dusky face, whitt* 
hair, a. drab coat of superfine broadcloth, and a Quaker hat. 
He was born and buried at Ellicott Mills where his grave is 
now unmarked." This reference concludes with these signi- 
ficant words on which individuals and organizations may well 
ponder. She says: "Here is a chance for the rising race to 
erect a monument to one of their o\^ti sons, who in the face of 
ignorance and bondage proved himself every inch a man ; in 
intellectual gifts equal to the best.'* 

This reminds us that there are possibly now preserved 
through family records many valuable personal recollections 
of this earlier day, and should thej^ be brought to light through 
the activities of this association, which will guarantee to keep 
alive and transmit them unimpaired, an important work will 
have been accomplished in the interest of American Negro 
history. 

It is a rather sad commentary upon Negro enterprise and 
pride of race, that the compended data of the North Amer- 
ican Indian is more comprehensive than that of the American, 
Negro, notwith-standing his wealth, his intelligence and his 
numerical superiority. 

It is distressing to think of the numerous historical credits 
which liave been lost to the Negro through the failure to 
preserve honorable incidents and traditions of his steadfast 
devotion and faithful service. 

It is the duty of the present generation, as it should be 
•esteemed their proud privilege, to bend every effort and neglect 
no opportimity to gather the scattered fragments of Negro 



Acknowledgments are cordially rendered Mr. Daniel Murray, of the 
OongrevSsional Library, for much interesting information touching the 
life of Banneker. 



racial history wherever found and through some authorized 
channel insure its preservation as an essential link in the 
golden chain of his national progress. 

It matters not that this story up to a certain point must 
be one of involuntary^ service, frequent inhuman treatment, 
and the most extraordinary personal and family sacrifice. 
This must necessarily have been so or else the after history 
of a most wonderful progress could not have been written. 

From the degraded position of a human chattel has been 
evolved a man and citizen, theoretically at least, clothed with 
the rights and privileges pertaining thereto and cognizant or 
the manifold limitations which separate him from their right- 
ful exercise. 

With an unfaltering trust in that gracious Omnipotence 
whose care and protection brought the light of freedom from 
out the midnight of oppression, he looks ahead with confidence 
"That Avhat the future yields will be the right, unless he 
himvself is wrong." 

It is then, gentlemen, on this sixteenth day of April, fi 
date so pregnant of good for the race and the glad epoch of 
his manhood's birth, that T greet you with pride and joy and 
venture to urge that you stimulate in every possible way the 
interest that is here manifested by your presence, to the end 
that this our natal daj^ may continue each year to have its 
honored and appropriate recognition and that the traditions 
of an extraordinary racial history may not be lost to Amer- 
icans and especially to Negro Americans who shall come after 
us. 

It has been cause for regret that recognition in this District 
in a civic way has not been maintained in any reasonable pro- 
portion to the increasing numbers of its Negro citizens. The 
positions now and for a long time accorded, are in no sense 
an adequate recognition of either their numbers, intelligence, 
or wealth. 

There was a time when a Negro Treasurer in the person of 
Hon. John T. John.son. the father of our president and found- 
er, was responsible for the collected revenues of this District, 
and a Negro Collector of Taxes in the person of the Hon. 



John F. Cook receipted for the hundreds of thousands of 
dollars paid to the District Government, while the minor 
employees, such as clerks, messengers, and laborers were nu- 
merous in every city branch. A goodly representation was 
then also accorded in the police and fire departments and 
all branches of the District courts. 

What a contrast we find now, notwithstanding a commen- 
dable advance along lines of good citizenship, when but scant 
recognition is accorded in any department of the local govern- 
ment and when to see a Negro policeman or fireman is so rare 
an occurrence that one is almost impelled to pinch him to see 
if he is real flesh and blood. 

We feel, however, that a new order of things has been 
instituted and that the present Board of Comtmissioners will 
make it their duty to look more carefully after the interests 
of Negro citizens. The Association of Oldest Inhabitants 
(Colored) therefore extends to the Commissioners of the 
District their sincere compliments and desires to thank them 
for the appointment of two of our worthy citizens to be mem- 
bers of the detective branch of the guardians of the District, 
and we venture to express the hope, nay the belief, that num- 
bers of other good things may be held in trust at the District 
Building in recognition of that one-third population which 
is Negro and which in many instances, through its forbears, 
claims a residence almost as old as the government itself. 
Certainly a larger recognition by civic appointment might be 
abundantly justified on any possible theory of home rule, 
although there are those in responsible place. Avho, until re- 
cently might have had difficulty in even locating Washington 
on the map. who strenuously advocate the severest restrictions 
of the privileges of Negro citizens in the Capital City. 

Negro Americans are .iustly proud of the fifty years of 
freedom which have been rounded out since the last, which 
was also the first anniversary celebration of our Oldest In- 
habitants Association, and while there are doubtless as great 
a variety of opinions on the subject of our progress as there 
are angles of observation, yet could a balance be stimck. the 
fact of a substantial and persistent advance in all ways that 



make for broad and enlightened citizenship would be readily 
established. This, too, notwithstanding the formidable checks 
that have been organized and developed during the year. 

The fact that a government committed by its own tra- 
ditional experience and history to substantial freedom and 
equity ; the largest liberty and equality of civic duty and 
privilege for all its citizens, should depart from its faith and 
constitutional pledges to indulge in the extraordinary prac- 
tices of discrimination and segregation on account of race, 
might well spread confusion and inspire distrust. 

It is, however, the strong fires of persecution which 
draw out, emphasize and develop the worthful traits of racial 
character, and just as the burning wrongs and brutal in- 
justices of slavery led three million black Americans to lay 
their burden at the foot of the Cross and with constant 
prayer besiege Jehovah's throne, just so did this "new sla- 
very," with its frightful possibilities, recreate a race, now 
grown ten millions strong. 

It has taken fifty years to realize that there can be no 
substantial success or progress without union, and for the first 
time since Emancipation this realization has been translated 
into terms of prompt, effective and united action. The Negro 
race is stronger to-day because of segregation. 

It is said that misfortunes are frequently blessings in dis- 
guise, and so indeed the years that are to come may regard 
this abominable and un-American practice of segregation as 
one of the blessings of the Wilson Administration that future 
generations of prosp'erous and respected Negro citizens ^vil] 
complacently refer to as "Just a little Wilson, that's all." 

In this connection a sense of pride may surely be indulged 
by every agency, personal or otherwise, that contributed in 
any way to the discouragement of this shameless assault upon 
a loyal and deserving class of employees. 

Among these agencies, this Association came early to the 
front and with action that was spontaneous and unanimous 
responded by a contribution of $25.00 to be sent by the local 
conmiittee of fifty or more to the National Association for the 



Advancement of Colored People to help in its splendid fight 
against segregation. ' ~^ 

Too much praise can not be bestowed upon the noble men 
and women of the white race whose fearless championship 
serves notice on the apostles of reaction and prejudice that 
there are those to-day in place and power who exalt right and 
justice above might and expediency and who are as unre- 
servedly committed to a square deal for the Negro as w^ere 
those brave and loyal souls of fifty years ago. 

The National Independent Political League, under the lead- 
ership of William Monroe Trotter, which presented a petition 
of 10,000 names to the President asking that segregation be 
abolished, should not be overlooked and deserves, indeed, large 
credit for the measure of success attending the general effort. 
Segregation still lives, however, and with sullen growl and 
gnashing teeth, thrusts itself across the path of Negro pil- 
grims, who are pressing forward with determined faith toward 
the city of Equal Rights. 



We pause to pay a tribute of loving regard to those who, 
since the formation of this Association have passed out arid 
beyond our human contact and are now citizens of that misty 
and intangible land of "Nevermore." Many, too. have pre- 
vioiLsly gone whose proud delight it would have been to be 
numbered with us had they been permitted to linger yet 
awhile. Coimtless numbers of such have been called to the 
other side, who have very largel.y increased the measure of 
esteem in which the Negro people of this District are held. 

To this glorious host we offer the loving and grateful 
tribute of sincere affection and pledge to their memory our 
most tender regard, looking forward to a happy reunion, 
when, as theirs, our life's work, too, shall have been completed. 

Among these Mr. Sydney Herbert. Mr. J. F. N. Wilkinson, 
Mr. Thomas II. Wriglit and ]\Ir. Wallace Grant had signified 
their intention to be numbered with us. Each of these had 



rounded out an honorable career which had its inception in 
the humblest station to which man can be bom. 

That they advanced from stage to stage, through situations 
of personal humiliation and distress, with loyal and honorable 
service through the dangers and privations of civil discord 
and bore a worthy though humble part in the rebirth and 
progress of reunited America, is the proud heritage of their 
loved ones and should remain a cherished memory with all 
Negro citizens. 

The toll of deaths of members during the year includes 
that of Mr. James H. Cruso and Mr. Archie Lewis. 

Each of these had spent many years in the service of the 
government, the former in various positions, both at home and 
abroad, on land and on sea ; but whether in departmental 
service at Washington or aboard ship in foreign port or dis- 
tant seas, he was ever a patriotic American and loyal friend. 

The service of Mr. Archie Lewis covered a period of more 
than tifty years, and in an association, than which, none is 
more lofty and whose influences are more potential and far- 
reaching. To the exacting demands of such an exalted en- 
vironment as the Supreme Court of the United States, Mr, 
Lewis responded patiently, unfalteringly and successfully. 

The record of his service of a life-time illumines the 
archives of this august tribunal, and at his bier, within the 
shadow of the humble, darkened home, there stood in sym- 
pathetic bereavement a majority group of the distinguished 
jurists who compose the highest judicial body in the land. 

This remarkable tribute was subsequently read into the 
record of the proceedings of the House of Representatives ; 
and thus the life and character and extended public service of 
this pure minded Negro gentleman and upright citizen have 
been incorporated among the bright historic facts of our 
country and the memory of his long and faithful service 
and conspicuous integrity nuist ever inspire our youth to 
emulation and stimulate the active interest of powerful 
friends in the well-being of Negro citizens. 



(1) Among the other matters of uplift and interest engag- 
ing the thought of the Association during the year are the 
proposition for incorporation, which is not yet accomplished. 

(2) The serious consideration of a movement looking to the 
acquisition by purchase of a building to be used as the home 
of the Association. 

(3) The discouraging indifference with which in many in- 
stances the claims of qualified and eligible graduates of our 
public schools are set aside in the interest of candidates from 
abroad and the palpably imfair action of the authorities in 
appointing married women, while worthy and competent 
graduates who are single, are without employment. The fact 
that teachers on the regular force are employed in the night 
schools while numbers of graduates are left without employ- 
ment was also seriously deplored. 

(4) The eighth of August, 1913, will ever be remembered 
as the date of the first anunal picnic of the Association as 
well as what was conceded to be by the hundreds who parti- 
cipated, one of the most enjoyable affairs within the memory 
of the oldest resident. 

Compliments of the Association are due the Industrial Sav- 
ings Bank. Mr. John "W. Lewis, President, on its acquisition 
of the True Reformers ' Building in this city ; and while we 
regret the looseness of management that made its sale neces- 
sary we are proud that another institution belonging to the 
race has been enabled through thrift, industry and wise 
business methods to attain such financial strength as to make 
its purchase possible. 



The most notable international event of the year, by far, 
was the election of the Hon. John R. Archer to the Mayoralty 
of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea, London, England, 
an interesting notice of Avhich was brought to the Associa- 
tion at its meeting in January by our esteemed associate 
Mr. John W. Cromwell. For this courtesy His Excellency, 
the JNIayor, extends Mr. Cromwell his sincere thanks. 

In response to our communication bearing felicitations on 



the splendid honor that through him was reflected upon the 
whole Negro Race, the Mayor wrote with much feeling and 
unmistakable appreciation of the affectionate consideration 
in which he is regarded by those of his race in America and 
was particularly anxious to be informed concerning the Old- 
est Inhabitants Association. The Mayor was also good enough 
to forward photographs of himself in his Mayoralty robes and 
Chain of Office and in Court dress as presented to King 
George the Fifth. 



It is said that the Negro is habitually happy and opti- 
mistic and that it is natural for him to look on the bright 
side of things. This is probably true for it is surely in keep- 
ing with the beneficent nature of the Creator to endow him 
thus liberally, as He has knoMTi from the beginning the 
serious trials which were to beset his pathway and the cruel 
persecutions which w^ere to environ and to thwart his progress. 

Such is the fate of humanity that for weal and for woe we 
are linked to a destiny which at varying intervals carries us 
to the attractive pasture lands of personal happiness and 
again plunges us seemingly without hope into the abysmal 
depths of despondency. 

Thus, although it is a primary object of the Oldest Inhabi- 
tants Association (Colored) to live in and exploit the past and 
to build up an organization of good-natured fossilized has- 
beens, they at the same time encourage a disposition to enjoy 
the good things of the present and contribute in every way 
possible toward a racial foundation of integrity and charac- 
ter, upon which our boys and girls, who are to be the future 
citizens, may erect a temple of achievements which will be as 
high and as broad as wealth and intelligence may make it. 



An admonition of prudence has pp«vented the Association 
from evincing its deep interest in the long held-up nomina- 
tion of its most distinguished member, the Hon. Robert H. 



Terrell, to be a Justice of the Municipal Court of the District 
of Columbia. 

However, since his confirmation has been realized, it does 
feel that had he been defeated, there would have nevertheless 
remained to us unimpaired, his sterling worth, his loyal friend- 
ship and splendid judicial record. 

These! These may be fondly cherished; but what would 
.narrow bigotry and unreasoning prejudice have gained, more 
than the scornful pity of the brave and just. 



Turning to another feature of this anniversary occasion 
.it is sorrowfully realized that a considerable contingent of 
the Negro people of this District have no sympathy with any 
kind of formal exercise having as its object the recognition 
of April 16 and the act of Mr. Lincoln that marked an 
epoch for the American nation no less than for the American 
Negro. 

The greatest desire of such weaklings is to forget that their 

. parents bore with the fortitude of martyrs the cruel hardships 

of the condition into which the Master had called them and 

through which they have earned for themselves a far more 

increasing and eternal weight of glory. 

In iurtheranee of this desire they seek to repudiate any 
kind of connection through which their original station or 
ancestry might be suspected. 

Poor, misguided creatures ; how pitiable and how disgusting 
to witness the dethronement of all manly and womanly prin- 
ciple, through the reaching after a fictitious ideal and their 
affected scornful regard of Negro effort and character and the 
ridiculous gymnastics which their Anglo-Saxon predilections 
seem to render necessary. 

This reference, be it known, is made in all kindliness but 
with genuine sorrow and regret; sorrow for a weakness that 
invites only contempt from other races and regret that through 
this weakness on the part of some, the constant fight of noble 



men and women against the insufferable egotism and preju- 
dice of race is rendered all the harder for the many. 

Quite naturally it may be supposed the members of the 
Oldest Inhabitants Association (Colored) are an entirely dif- 
ferent kind of people. 

They are not disposed to apologize for either their color or 
previous condition and are not afflicted with an' unnatural 
desire to change their natural pigment or exchange their social 
status. 

To them the former condition of slavery is a fact of history 
that minimizes in no degree the appreciation of their present 
obligations, duties and privileges, as citizens of the great 
American Republic and residents of its capital city. 

For present purposes it is not necessary to institute a psy- 
chological analysis of the forces which urged the Proclamation 
of Emancipation. 

The Act for whatever purpose accomplished, must take its 
place as the most stupendous, far-reaching and beneficent with- 
in the scope of human experience in this or any other age. 

For the same reasons the name of Lincoln the Emancipator, 
Lincoln the JNIartyr, must gain new lustre as the ages roll and 
his memory, as long as love and hope enrich our human lives, 
will be accorded the affectionate reverence of a grateful people. 



Address 

By De. W. S. Montgomery. 

[Delivered at Annual Meeting of the Oldest Inhabitants Association 

(Colored), of Washington, D. C, April 16, 1914.] 

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Oldest Inhabitants 
Association : 
My first duty is to return thanks for the honor conferred 
upon me in the privilege of meeting with you. It has been 
humorously said that when the Pilgrims landed "Upon the 
wild New England shore" — 

"They first fell upon their knees. 
And then upon the aborigines." 

To-night it is my rare good fortune to fall in with the 
"aborigines," the men who through long years of inhabitancy 
have by prescription won the right to initiation in your As- 
sociation. Long life to your organization, and long life to 
you who now compose it ! 

The member who so l^indly invited me to meet and mingle 
with you upon this occasion is a comrade in the arduous ex- 
cellence of things done rather than in the easy excellence of 
things said. 

In the whirl and swirl — the razzle dazzle of life — it is diffi- 
cult to say whether we are the "Last Roses of Summer" or 
the "Roses of Last Summer." My friend's connection here 
leads me to suspect that he has a lurking suspicion of being 
the "Rose of Last Summer." I, however, am still too young 
to seek enrollment in this body of ancient and honorable men. 
As the children of Israel had to wander forty years in the 
wilderness to purge and tit them for entrance into Canaan, 
so they who seek membership in the Association of the Oldest 
Inhabitants, must have for forty years wandered to and fro 
in the wilderness of the world ere they "alarm the door." 

Your object is a noble and worthy one, to rescue from the 
darkness of oblivion local traditions, to keep unbroken the 



chords of friendship and fellowship stretching from many 
hearth stones, to touch elbows, and clasp hands, and to cheer 
and hearten life's comrades. A community, knit and sin- 
ewed together by such a society, is exalted in the eyes of all, 
and accomplishes a higher mission. Each realizes his larger 
or commimity selt. and thus is his individual self plus his 
greater social self. 

When occasions arise to speak on educational, economic, 
moral or spiritual questions, the voice of the Association 
carries farther, and gains more ready audience. In a multi- 
tude of counselors there is wisdom. Til-considered proposi- 
tions, half-baked Adews, are not apt to emanate from a body 
so rich in years and experience. 

Traditions intensely interesting and important are kept 
alive, vitalized by men who can with Aeneas say "Pars magna 
fui." Commingled with you are sons who hear your words 
and behold your faces, and your lineaments will endure long 
after you have answered the summons to the narrow house 
and long sleep. In the presence of so great a cloud of wit- 
nesses the sons will live in emulation of noble sires. 

It is well for men like you to keep alive the sacred, im- 
written chronicles of the city. Many of you saw the carnage 
of a war which gave you and me liberty in place of unhal- 
lowed slavery which cast its dark cloud over this community ; 
you have witnessed the marvelous progress in learning, in 
prosperity. These gatherings should vividly bring before the 
sons — ^the younger generation — the toil and self-denial of the 
fathers, that they may know the price paid for their station 
in life to-day. 

One by one the older members drop out of life's marching 
ranks to answer roll call nevermore ; but fresh accessions make 
the Association perpetual. Let its reminiscences of the past 
illuminate the present and future of young men, "the heirs of 
all the ages, in the foremost files of time." 

I again thank you for the honor you have bestowed on 
me, and I assure you that while I live I shall never cease to 
take a deep interest in the welfare of the body with which by 
your kindness I have this evening become acquainted. 



Officers of the Association 

Jerome A. Johnson, President 

Davjd L. Brl'CE, First Vice President 

Eugene Beooks, Second Vice President 

Lemxjel C. Bailey, Third Vice President 
Lloyd Brown, Fourth Vice President 

E. H. Hawkins. Fifth Vice President 
John I. Jackson, Treasurer 

Ira p. T. Wright, Financial Secretary 
JAS. W. Muse, Bee. Secretary 
Wm. T. Smith, Assi. Fin. Sec. 
Wm. a. Prater, Steward 

Eligible Committee: 

A. Lincoln Brown H. D. Williams 

David L, Bbuce J. C. Bruce 

Charles W. Mason 



SB i ^ ^ 



Roster 



Aden, Jas. W. 

Atkinson, Chester 

Atkinson, C'has. S. 

Bailey, L. C. 

Barker, Jas. C. 

Bell, W. H. 

Beckley, W. W. 

Beverly, Eobt. 

Blake, W. F. 

Bowie, Eandell 

Boston, A. F. 

Bowman, Lincoln 

Brent, A. P. 

Brent, Wm. H. 
'Brooks, Jno. H. 

Brooks, Chas. E. 

Brooks, Geo. L. 

Brooks, Eli 

Brooks, Eugene 

Brooks, Saulsbury 

Brown, L. A. 

Brown, Lloyd 

Brown, W. H. 

Brown, Jno. T. 

Bruce, D. L. 

Bruce, W. H. 

Bruce, J. C. 

Bruce, Shermont 

Bronaugh, Hunter 

Butcher, J. H. 

Carroll, Patrick 

Chase, B. W. 

Chase, G. A. 

Collins, L. M. 

Colbert, R. R. 

Colbert, W. H. 

Conway, W. A. 

Cole, J. F. 

Cook, Fred. 

Cox, T. A, 

Cromwell, J. W. 

Cruso, F. R. 

Davis, L. P. H. 

Dodson, L. E. 

Dodson, W. N. 

Dogans, R. E. 

Dupee, W. S. 

Fleet, William 

Fleetwood, Maj. C. A. 

Gillam, J. R. 

Gray, J. A. 
'.Gr^y, ?•. E. . . ,., 
"Gray, J. W. •• \: 



Gray, S. J. 
Green, C. H. 
Green, J. W. 
Green, R. P. 
Grimshaw, W. H. 
Hall, Francis 
Harris, R. T . 
Harrison, R. H. 
Hawkins, William 
Hawkins, R. H. 
Hearns, F. E. 
Herbert, J. R. 
Hill, W. H. 
Hickman, J. L. 
Jackson, Elton 
Jackson, H. W. 
Jackson, J. I. 
Jarvis, Henry 
Janifer, E. F. 
Jackson, Lewis 
Jones, S. L. 
Jackson, T. H. 
Johnson, W. H, 
Johnson, J. H. 
Kennedy, W. M. 
Layton, J. T. 
Lewis, J. H. 
Lewis, Shermont 
Lownes, David 
Lucas, Geo. 
Lucas, Peter 
Martin, E. T. 
Marsten, Geo. 
Mason, C. W. 
Middleton, L. A. 
Moore, Lewis 
Moore, J. R. 
Moore, W. R. 
Murray, Daniel 
Myers, W. A. 
Muse, J. W. 
McBowser, Chas. 
Nalle, J. C. 
Nugent, R. H. 
Nugent, Meshach 
Parker, G. W. 
Payne, Franie 
Payne, G. A. 
Payne, Jas. A. 
Payne, R. A. 
Paynter, J. fl. 
Pendleton, Frank 
Peters, R. B. 



Pierce, Chas. 
Pinn, G. I. 
Posey, J. H. 
Prater, J. H. 
Prater, W. A. 
Riley, P. P. 
Richardson, Williami 
Ross, H. L. 
Russel, Aaron 
Savoy, Edward A. 
Savoy, Alex. E. 
Savoy, J. A. 
Sewall, Dr. G. T. 
Shaw, R. A., Sr. 
Shaw, E. A., Jr. 
Short, T. W. 
Shorter, J. A. 
Silence, W. A. 
Smith, R. E. 
Smith, S. Neal 
Smith, W. J. 
Smith, W. T. 
Snowden, Noble N, 
Stannard, S. ' 

Stewart, G. W. 
Streets, J. H. 
Sydnor, G. L. 
Syphax, M. M. 
Syphax, W. C. 
Taper, C. H. 
Taylor, J. W, 
Terrell, R. H. 
Thomas, J. A, 
Thomas, J. M. 
Thomas, C. E. 
Tinney, Dennis 
Tilghman, R. A, 
Thornton, J. H, 
Tucker, C. R. 
Turner, E. W. 
Walker, W. W, 
Watson, S. W, 
Wells, Francis 
Wells, R. H. 
Williams, J. W. 
Williams, Henry 
West, Dr. C. I. 
Williams, H, D. 
Wooden, J., Sr. 
Wormley, Dr. C. S, 
Wright, I. F. T, 
Wright, J. B. 
Young, Walter 



COINS PR UNITING CO. 

1344 You Street, Northwest 

VVASHUS-QTON, D. C. 



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